Electric fuse holder for automobiles



Nov. 26, 1929. J, w, PATRlcK 1,737,329

ELECTRIC FUSE HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed DOO. 22. 192? Patented Nov.26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FUSE HOLDER FORAUTOMOBILES Application led December 22, 1927, Serial This inventionrelates to electric fuse holders for automobiles and its primary objectis to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient fuse holder which isadapt-ed for attachment to the dash board or like part of an automobileand to removably accommodate a series of the ordinary automobile fusesin a rotary magazine, whereby in the event of a fuse burning out, a newfuse may be immediately brought into action by partial rotation of themagazine and without removingand renewing the burnt-out fuse until allof the fuses have been spent when they may be readily replaced by merelyinserting new fuses into circumferentially spaced passages of themagazine.

Vhilst electric fuses of the rotary magazine type are already known,such existing devices have the disadvantage that the individual fusesare lixedly mounted within the magazine, so that when all of the fuseshave Vbeen spent it is necessary to provide an entirely new magazine,instead of merely inserting newstandard fuses therein as is the casewith the present invention. Moreover magazine fuses have not hithertobeen adapted for mounting on the dashboard or like part of anautomobile, for which purpose the present invention has been speciallydesigned.

In order that this invention may be better understood, reference willnow be made to the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as part ofthis specification and read herewith Figure 1 is an external side Viewof a fuse holder according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the fuse holder.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line III-III in Figure 2.

Figure l is a detail view of a series of springs carried by a ringmember as seen in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view in section, showing a modifiedform of spring means for the fuses in the holder.

Figure 6 is a view showing a fuse holder according to the inventionfitted to the instrument or dash board of an automobile.

vThe invention includes a base plate or No. 241,894, and in AustraliaJuly s, 1927.

disc member T which may be suitably constructed from sheet metal and isprovided with a central socket or cup shaped depression 8 t-oaccommodate an insulating ring 9 through which and the bottom of saiddisc member coinciding central openings 1l are formed to pass astationary axial spindle 12 which is insulated from said disc member. Atthe inner end of this spindle is a terminal screw 13 carrying suitableterminal nuts 14 to receive one of the electric conductors (not shown)leading to the fuse.

A contact pin 16 having at its inner end a similar terminal screw 17 andnuts 18 also passes through the bottom of the cup S and through the saidinsulating ring 9; the front face of the enlarged head 19 of this pinpreferably being recessed as at 21 to receive the inner ends of thefuses 22 as they are successively brought into engagement with thecontact pin 16 by rotation of the magazine 23.

The magazine is mounted rotatably upon the said axial spindle 12 and maybe constructed of fibre or other suitable insulating material, and it ispreferably of cylindrical shape. The magazine is provided with a centralpassage 24 to accommodate the axial spindle and is also provided with aseries of circumferentially spaced passages 26 extending from end to endthereof for the purpose of accommodating the fuses 22 which may be ofthe tubular type commonly used on automobiles.

According to the embodiment shown in l Figure 2, the saidcircumferentially spaced passages 26 also accommodate relatively lightcoiled springs 27 one of which presses against the outer end of eachfuse 22 so that the inner end of the latter is forced yieldingly againstthe front face of the aforesaid insulating ring 9 and into the recess 21of the Contact pin 16 as the fuse is brought into alignment with thelatter. The outer end portions of the springs 27 may be welded, solderedor otherwise suitably secured to a metal ring 28. An insulating strip 20may be secured to the under face of the bottom wall of the cup or socket8, having perforatons for the passage of the terminals 13 and 17therethrough; these perforations or openings being provided withstruck-up marginal lips or flanges 25 thatl project into the openings inthe aforesaid cup wall to prevent short-circuiting.

Covering the outer end of the rotatable magazine 23, the springs 27 andthe metal ring 28 is a cap l29 which is preferably provided with amilled or like edge 30 and is adapted to be turned with the magazineabout the aforesaid axial spindle.

Passing through a central hole in the cap 29 into a coinciding screwthreaded hole 81 in the outer end of the axial spindle y12 is a setscrew 32 having a milled or like head 33 whereby the cap is retained inplace and the magazine may be normally held against rotation. Y

Screw holes 34 or the like are 'formed through the base plate or disc 7whereby the latter may be conveniently attached to the dashboard ,0rinstrument board 36 of an autombile as indicated in Figure 6.

In use, the current passes from one terminal through the axial spindle12, the metal Cap 29 and the metal ring 28 to the respective spring 27and the -MEQ ZWhCh is engaging the contact pin 16 in the insulatingring9, and thence' through ,this contactwpin to the other terminal which isattached thereto. When a lfuse 22 becomes burnt out or damaged, it ismerely necessary to give the cap 29 yon the magazine a partial turn sothat the inner end of the next succeeding fuse 22 is brought intoengagement with the contact pin 16, whereupon the new fuse is inposition for use.

When all of the fuses have been spent, ity

is merely necessary to remove the set screw 32 and cap 29, whereupontheV magazine 23 may be withdrawn from the axial spindle 12 and the usedfuses slipped out and replaced by new ones, against the outer endsofwhich the springs 27 are positioned in the respect-ive passages 26 ofthe magazine. The cap -29 and set screw 33 are t enagain placed inposition and the device is ready for further use.

Suitable indication marks may, if desired, be placed upon the discmember 7 and the magazine 23 (for instance as at 44, 45 and 46 inYFigures l and 3) to indicate the correct degree and direction ofrotation of the magazine to bring the fuses successively into operativeposition.

According to the modification illustrated .in .Figure .5,1118 relativelylight independent Springs 27 are replaced by Single relatively streng.Serine 37 which ,encircle the .Spindle 1.2 between the .Cep 2.9 and a,metal ring 28a. This ring is providedr with a number of cir-,cumferentially spaced studs .38 which project wie the respective fusepassages 26 'm the nasal-lne 23, and thus relhently hold the i'uses 22against the outer face of the insulating ring 9.

Having now described my invention what I clailn as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. An improved electric fuse holder forautomobiles, comprising in combination, a cylindrical socket memberadapted to be attached to the dash or instrument board of the vehicle, aring of insulatin material disposed within and adjacent an inner endwall of said socket member, a contact member extending through saidinsulating ring and said wall at a point which is oil-setfrom the centrethereof, said contact member forming one of the electric terminals ofthe device, a spindle extending axially through the socket member andsaid insulating ring and forming the other electric terminal, a magazinerotatable about said spindle and lhaving its inner Surface .contiguouswith Athe outer surface of said ring, said magazine being provided withanumber of circumfercntielly spaced and open ended longitudinalpassageways each pf which is adapted to removably and slidablyaccommodate an electric fuse, means for electrically connecting saidspindle with said fuses. Spring means 'for pressing said fuses inwardlywithin their respective passageway-s, and a detachable cap at the outerend, of the magazine for retaining said spring means in operativeposition.

2. In an electric fuse holder, the combination of a support, a magazinerotatably nccommodated by said support, said magazine being providedwith a number ,of .circumferentially spaced and open ended longitudinalpassageways each of which is adapted tp removably and slidablyaccommodate an electric fuse, a contact member carried by said ,supportin circumferential alignment with the fuse accommodating passageways ofthe magazine, and resilient means to press said fuses inwardly withintheir respective passageways so that by appropriate turning of themagazine any one of said fuses may be electrically connected with saidcontact member, said resilient means comprising a plate and a number ofcircumferentially spaced springs havi v'their outer ends secured to saidplate an their inner ends adapted to engage the outer ends of fuses insaid magazine.

3. In an electric fuse holder, the .combination of a support; a magazinerotatably mounted thereon and provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially-spaced, openended longitudinal passageways, each pfwhich is adapted to removably and slidably accommodate an electric`fuse; a plate at one end of the magazine; a plurality ofcircumferentially-spaced springs carried said plate and having theirinner ends a opted to engage the .outer ends of the fuses in saidpassageways and press the same inwardly thereinto; and a cap removablyfitted on said magazine end to hold the plate and springs normally inoperativeposition.

4. An electric fuse holder, comprising a cup-shaped socket; a spindleextending axially therethrough; a magazine disposed Within said socketfor rotary movement about said spindle7 said magazine being' providedwith a plurality of cireumferentially-Spaced, open-ended longitudinalpassageways, each of which is adapted to removably and slidablyaccommodate an electric fuse; a plate at one end of the magazine; aplurality of eircumferentially-spaced springs carried b v said plate andhaving their inner ends adapted to engage the outer ends of the Jfusesin said passageways and press the same inwardly thereinto; and a capremovably fitted on said magazine end to hold the plate and springsnormally in operative position.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

J. W. PATRICK.

